Cover Story: Rainfed Farming

Agriculture means not just food security, it is not just about productivity and contribution to country’s GDP. Agriculture also means the livelihood of more than 60 per cent of the people in India. Of this 60 per cent about 400 million depend on rain-fed/dry land farms. About 68 per cent of the net sown area constitute rain-fed regions in India. Characterized by water scarcity, poor infrastructure, low productivity and inadequate policies, about 30 million rain-fed farmers are yet to see the silver lining around the dark cloud. The poverty of the country is mostly in the rain-fed areas.

 “Development as freedom, and literacy is the high road to freedom” - Amartya Sen.

India is home to 17 million child labour, only about 20 per cent of the graduates are
employable in the market and in a country with huge occupational diversity there are only
about 150 or so skill-based trainings. These statistics are not encouraging. If literacy, as it
exists in today’s India, has truly laid the path to freedom? Is our education ‘machine’
contributing towards improving the quality of life and livelihoods of the people at large?

Cover Story: The 'tidal' Livelihoods

About 250 million people make a living within a range of 50 km, along the coast of India that is about 8000 km approximately. Coastal livelihoods for major part are akin to the livelihoods practiced in the hinterland, both urban and rural areas, except for a few like fishing, salt farming, coastal plantations, coconut cultivation, cashew cultivation, shell crafts etc that are predominantly found in coastal areas. Of the 250 million about 80 per cent are engaged in livelihoods that are urban-based port-based, tourist-based, service-based, land- based (fertile delta), large scale commercial fishing or dairy etc. This 80 per cent are not discussed here. The remaining 20 per cent are the poor living along the coast depending on resources between the cities and deltas and one of the most marginalized sections of the country. They face all kinds of problems like their counterparts in the hinterland. In addition, being right on the coast itself, they place themselves at the mercy of nature. Their livelihoods carry a huge risk.

Cover Story: Dalit Livelihoods

Dalits account for more than 16 per cent of India’s population. Majority of them belong to the poorest sections of the society and predominantly based in rural India. While a small percentage are small and marginal farmers, many of them are engaged as agricultural wage labourers. Where dalits got opportunities and access to resources, they proved to be on par with rest of population in delivering products and services. They have excelled in what they do. There is a huge untapped potential amongst the dalits. Multiple opportunities should be created by various stakeholders at all levels to unfold this potential.

Cover Story: Ageing Young India

India is witnessing a significant demographic change. We will no longer be a young nation. The number of elderly persons in India is progressively increasing. By 2025 it is expected that India will be home to more than 175 million people that are 60 years and above of age. Is the country ready to embrace this transition? Do we have adequate and appropriate aged care systems in place in the context of changing socio-economic conditions? What is the plight of the elderly among the poor? Are there options to set the poor on the trajectory of graceful ageing?

Cover Story: Adivasi Livelihoods

The livelihoods of the Adivasis of India are in a crisis. While many traditional livelihoods are dying out others are sailing through rough seas. Increased population pressure continues to place enormous stress on forest and other natural resources and the adivasis are left to compete with the mainstream for which they are ill-equipped. Being a minority in many States of India, their voice is seldom heard. The Adivasis occupy the bottom rungs of the development ladder and about 50 per cent of them are poor. Studies indicate that some of them can be placed on par with the poorest in sub-Saharan African countries.